SECTION III.

THE SPIRIT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AMONG THE DISSENTERS, DURING THIS PERIOD.

THE state of religious liberty among the dissenters, during this period, has been described in the preceding sections. The act of toleration may be considered as one of those extensive leaps, which liberty sometimes takes in its progress to increase the happiness of mankind. Had historians carefully and accurately marked the appearance of each general principle as it rose into existence, its adoption by a portion of the human race, and when it was first put into a state of beneficial operation, they would have laid posterity under the highest obligations. To some much praise is due in this respect; and perhaps the rigid laws which the literary world has imposed on the writers of civil history, have prevented many from indulging in disquisitions of this nature. The ecclesiastical historian has a claim to greater licence; and some of the pages of his volume he may, with propriety, employ in investigating the origin and progress of principles to which we are indebted for much of our dignity as citizens, and our felicity as men. Of the importance of the great principle of religious liberty its enemies appear to have been aware, as well as its friends. The attempts which were made by the occasionalconformity and schism bill to lessen its salutary

influence, or entirely to defeat its purpose, too plainly discover their dread of its power.

There is another subject of inquiry closely connected with this, namely, what ideas as to religious liberty, were, during this period, entertained by the dissenters themselves, and what progress they had made in this salutary science. The greater part of the non-conformists bore the name of Presbyterians, and of that denomination a considerable majority did then consist. As presbyterianism is a system which will admit of being established, it is in this respect on a level with episcopacy; and it resembles it too in having nothing in its nature, which necessarily leads its votaries to be greater advocates for the rights of conscience. Though the hand of presbytery has been neither so big, nor so hard, as that of epis copacy, it has laid on its blows with as great willingness, and with all its force. Of the intolerance of the Scotch presbyterians, their history is full. The English presbyterians, in the days of their power, have no praise due to them for liberality of sentiment, or for shewing equal regard to the rights of other men's consciences as of their own. But it is probable that the sufferings which they were afterwards called to endure, softened them down to greater measures of consideration and forbearance. Whatever desire any of this body might display before the restoration, to establish an effective presbyterian government, none was discovered after the revolution.

As the old generation were, at no great distance of time after this last event, gathered to their fathers, their successors discovered no symptoms of wishing to act upon the presbyterian system, and retained the name only, and not the thing. Their principles be

came far more tolerant and liberal. The preceding age had produced nothing which can in this respect be compared for just ideas on religious liberty in its fullest extent, to Dr. Calamy's introduction to the second volume of his defence of moderate non-conformity. Yet he was looked upon to be as strenuous a presbyterian as any of his time: and those of his standing, may be justly regarded as holding the same sentiments with him. How different are the sentiments of Calamy from those of Edwards, the violent presbyterian in the days of the long parliament. During the succeeding years of persecution the Gospel engaged their chief attention, and supported them under their suffering. When the revolution brought with it the enjoyment of quietness, and freedom from oppression, the minds of the dissenters naturally took a wider range, and surveyed their distinguishing sentiments respecting church government. The consequence was, that in the course of this period there was a gradual, yet a considerable enlargement of mind among the ministers and members of this denomination, as to their ideas of religious liberty.

When the system of theological and ecclesiastical opinions, which men have adopted, does not necessarily contain the principles of persecution, and they have no bias in their hearts from worldly interest, there is a probability that they will be open to conviction; and if it be their happiness to enjoy intercourse with enlightened and candid men, or to be directed to the reading of authors distinguished for

y When Mr Locke had read it, he sent word to the doctor by a friend, that while he kept to these principles, and defended the dissenters on that ground, he might defy the assaults of all their enemies.

their liberality and justness of thought, the result is likely to be a visible improvement in accurate ideas, and generous sentiments. When temporal emoluments, and pure principles are at variance with each other, persous not destitute of knowledge and capacity, or of the means of improvement, may continue for centuries without any perceptible advances towards truth: and there is besides, the esprit de corps, which conspires with the others to hold men fast in chains, and confines them all their days in the dungeon of prejudice and error. Others in the mean time, though not superior in talents or literature, by being emancipated from these weighty shackles, are making progress in the acquisition of these sentiments and principles which improve the human intellect and heart, and ameliorate the moral and political state of society. In a course of time the others, whose proper province it was to take the lead in so noble an office, are slowly, because reluctantly dragged after them, and almost in spite of themselves are compelled to relinquish one prejudice and false principle after another. For the instruction of mankind two or three are left behind, for a century or more, and exhibit to the wondering world the antiquated ideas, and lordly claims, of the age of darkness and superstition❜.

That principle of the Independents which renders the renovation of the heart, or, in other words, the possession of real religion necessary to a person's being a member of the church by a participation of all the ordinances of the Gospel, has a natural tendency. to preserve them from a spirit of intolerance and perDaubeny's Claims of the Church. Pearson's Duty of Stedfastness in Church Communion.

secution; as none can have a share in the regulation of their ecclesiastical concerns, but such as profess to deny themselves, to take up their cross, and follow Christ. The system is likewise unfit for being moulded into a national establishment; and cannot admit the great ones of the earth into their communion, in a body or at their will: they have, therefore, on this point few, or none, of those temptations to which both episcopacy and presbytery are so much exposed. It may not unreasonably be expected, that among Christians who had embraced this system, the justest ideas of religious liberty will be found: for it is a maxim nearly of universal concurrence, that where there is not on the mind the bias of worldly interest, which often generates and always fosters prejudice, the truth will be perceived with greater clearness, and in greater purity. This advantage the independents peculiarly enjoyed; and though, at first, some of them had not attained these principles in all their extent, they were in possession of the leading ideas. The next generation improved on these discoveries, and were led forward to the view of the remoter consequences which their fathers did not so fully perceive. The enjoyment of religious liberty, in consequence of the revolution, communicated, along with other benefits, a better temper, and enabled the dissenters to examine their principles with a calmer mind, and with kinder dispositions towards men of every denomination. In such a state of mind persons are enabled to think more correctly, and to judge with greater precision: the result was beneficial to themselves and to the world. The folly and wickedness of intolerance stared them in the face, and they more deeply felt that the rights of conscience